Shop Attempts Everything to Eliminate 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel, But It Refuses to Die

      Smith's Diesel Performance on YouTube

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      People enjoy a classic underdog tale. Whether it’s the Rocky films or the story of David and Goliath, the inherent drama keeps audiences engaged. And when you're attempting to take down a 7.3-liter Ford Power Stroke diesel, you find yourself in that very underdog position. That’s right—you’re akin to that Philadelphia boxer or that shepherd from Bethlehem. However, there’s no guarantee your journey will conclude as theirs did.

      Smith’s Diesel Performance has an older Ford E-Series van they seem determined to destroy. I've come to this conclusion because they’ve been attempting to incapacitate it for weeks. Despite running it on anything but diesel and pouring in low-quality oil, it still hasn't given in.

      Such videos can become tiresome quite fast. One could argue it's a waste of a good engine, and I would agree. However, what impresses me is the unwavering resilience of the old Power Stroke. It makes me proud to own one, you know?

      In the shop's initial video, they filled the van's fuel tank with 10 gallons of gasoline. Since it was already about half full of diesel, the 7.3-liter engine didn’t even flinch. I’ve heard of several people adding a bit of gasoline to their diesel trucks for cleaning purposes, but not in this quantity. Regardless, the vehicle kept running smoothly, unaffected even when they added a combination of used engine oil, differential oil, and transmission fluid to the tank.

      In their next effort, they drained the engine's thick oil and replaced it with a mixture of O’Reilly brand 5W-20 and used 75W-90 differential fluid. Typically, 10W-40 is recommended for these engines. I can say from experience that both the oil level and type are critical for these 7.3-liters—not only to keep the components moving but also because they operate with a HEUI injection system. This system shears the oil, causing it to temporarily lose viscosity under high pressure (intentionally).

      To complicate things, they conducted this oil change while the engine was still running. And what do you know? It didn’t have any major impact. The van stalled momentarily but started right back up and idled even more smoothly than before.

      The most recent challenges were the most extreme. They performed a 20-second burnout while injecting nitrous oxide, sprayed two cans of starting fluid into the intake, and even filled it with coolant, brake fluid, and butter—yes, butter. The 7.3-liter engine struggled considerably, knocking, smoking, and behaving quite querulously. Nevertheless, with a sufficient amount of cetane booster, the engine managed to spring back to life.

      Finally, they ran the van’s fuel tank nearly empty before pouring in E85. The noise was dreadful, and it nearly died as the engine eventually shut off. However, it was able to start again with used engine oil and a cetane booster. These engines are simply indestructible—at least with the methods they've attempted so far.

      I'm now eager to see what it will take to truly finish off the Power Stroke. They acquired the van for free, so they're not losing any money if it ultimately breaks down. Still, it’s tough to watch what appears to be a decent vehicle—albeit somewhat rusted—be driven to its limits.

      As for the 7.3, well, it hasn’t thrown in the towel yet.

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